Off brand Tyvek tarp

**NewtonGT** · 08-22-2014, 20:56

Hey guys, my uncle builds houses on Fripp island, SC and I asked him for a good chunk of tyvek and he said he would send me some. So he sent a massive sheet of it up here the other day transported by my brother but it turns out it is the off brand grayco house wrap and not real tyvek. Does anyone have any experience with this stuff because I have roughly 55 ft by 9 ft of it haha uploadfromtaptalk1408758751512.jpg
So I'm wondering if it's waterproof in the same way or not. It seems heavier than tyvek but not too heavy since I'm not a gram guy. It's almost see through but it does seem fairy sturdy uploadfromtaptalk1408758831870.jpg
I don't want it to go to waste and can obviously make ground cloths out of it but I really was just curious if anyone else had experience with it because I'd love to make a few tarps and pack covers out of it. Any response is greatly appreciated!

**mudsocks** · 08-22-2014, 22:36

Looks like a weave-laminate of some sort. Probably heavier than Tyvek. Make a bowl shape out of it and fill it with water to test.

**NewtonGT** · 08-22-2014, 23:08

Originally Posted by octothorpesarus

Looks like a weave-laminate of some sort. Probably heavier than Tyvek. Make a bowl shape out of it and fill it with water to test.

I'll see if I can try that tomorrow

**PappyAmos** · 08-23-2014, 08:30

Got a piece of "TYPAR" from a new house near me. White on one side and thinly coated with a black (tar?) substance on the back. Haven't had a chance to do anything with it yet.

**Rolloff** · 08-23-2014, 12:31

I have a neighbor wrapping his house in Lowes Building Wrap. Looks like Tyvek product made for them and printed with their logo.

I'll get a few peices and check back in when I have a chance to see what I've got.

**millergear** · 08-23-2014, 13:38

Keep in mind that the fabric will get damp in moderate rain but will leak in rain of extreme intensity.

**ntxkayakr** · 08-23-2014, 13:57

I would recommend that you spread it over a ridge line tied between two trees make it taunt and spray it with a hose and see how it holds up to a strong stream of water similar to a strong rain storm but not ridiculously strong. Even a material that is not super waterproof can still work if the angle of water deflection is steep enough, i.e. a steep "A" frame house. I lived for many months and summers under palm leaf roofs and never got wet, but you could easily pour a bucket of water straight thru them at the right angle. Simple physics, even mostly naked indigenous people in the forest can figure this stuff out. Just my personal experience yours may differ.

Also read this more scientific view:

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ed-vs-silnylon

Comment #9 by ChrisH is a must read in my opinion he has excellent experience

**NewtonGT** · 08-23-2014, 14:22

I'm going to try the piece of material and see if it hold the water, if it doesn't then I'll try it as mentioned above about hanging on a Ridgeline . I'll try and get some posts on here tonight

**NewtonGT** · 08-23-2014, 18:48

So I tried to test to see if it would leak with about 2-3 ounces of water poured into the make shift bowl. And within about 10 minutes it had dropped about 3 eye drop sized drops to the bottom of the container.
You can't tell alot from this picture but I believe like someone said this would be fine as long as I had it at the right angle for the water to roll off of it and not pool up.

And once those three drops fell out, no other drops have come out so it may have stopped.